GULGALLANA

[soulping]

[You suddenly find yourselves standing at the beginning of a large hedge maze, one with walls that extend so far above your head you're not quite certain where they end. There is no entrance behind you, and the bushes are so thick and full of thorns that attempting to crawl through them will result in numerous scratches]

[There is no way to go but forward]

Comments

ROUND ONE

[soulping]

[On your right you find a large, wooden shelf with twelve jars sitting on top of it]

- A jar of rat tails
- A jar of tiger eyes
- A jar of rabbit feet
- A jar of dragon hearts
- A jar of snake tongues
- A jar of horse stomachs
- A jar of goat horns
- A jar of monkey fingers
- A jar of rooster claws
- A jar of pig ears

[Each jar is clearly labeled, and the contents are exactly what the labels purport them to be. Choose three!]

DISCUSSION

[soulping]

Re: DISCUSSION

[debate_avenger]

So, there are twelve options, and we can only take three. We have no idea which ones any of the sphinxes actually want, either.

Re: DISCUSSION

[naturen]

You think these, uh... represent teams, somehow?

Re: DISCUSSION

[beathach]

I'd imagine it has to be something edible, but . . . [he blows out a growly-sounding sigh] That's all I can think of.

Re: DISCUSSION

[beathach]

[gross . . . he doesn't have his glasses so he's leaning in to read the jar labels a bit better]

DECISION

[soulping]

Re: DECISION

[debate_avenger]

Pig ears, Monkey fingers, and Rooster claws.

ROUND TWO

[soulping]

[You move forward through the maze, the hedges looming ominously around you. And thankfully, it isn't long before you run into your first checkpoint]

[In front of you, and stretched across the path, is a large sphinx with a striped lioness' body. her wings are tucked at her sides, and she regards the group with a lazy, bored expression]

Mmm. . . I would like something that loves sweet-smelling flowers. Do you have that for me, dears?

DISCUSSION

[soulping]

Re: DISCUSSION

[naturen]

"... sweet-smelling flowers?"

[ Ah, crap. It's riddles. Ren sucks at these. ] Pigs can find truffles, but...

DECISION

[soulping]

Re: DECISION

[debate_avenger]

Well, since you were so specific about what you wanted by asking for something that eats flowers when roughly a third of the options do, we're offering you this jar of pig ears.

Re: ROUND TWO

[naturen]

[ So after some talking...! ]

U-Uhm... Excuse me! Could... Would it be possible to get another hint? Please?

Re: ROUND TWO

[soulping]

[the sphinx says nothing, just staring at you with expecting eyes. her tail swishes back and forth]

ROUND THREE

[soulping]

[You walk through the maze's pathways for quite some time, taking sharp turns to the point of where you feel like you're going in circles. But eventually. . .]

[You stumble across another sphinx. Large, with blue fur and black hair, tiny wings protruding from his shoulders like stubs. he grumps at you all, chest puffed out formally.]

Give me something that amplifies the echoes you hear in a cavern.

DISCUSSION

[soulping]

Re: DISCUSSION

[debate_avenger]

...So horns or ears, then.

DECISION

[soulping]

Re: DECISION

[debate_avenger]

Much as we would like to offer some horns, we don't have any. Instead, I propose to offer you something that's made of the same stuff as horns: My hair, and my feathers. I offer all of it. That should do the trick, right?

ROUND FOUR

[soulping]

[You walk, and walk, and walk some more, until your feet begin to hurt and you start to wonder. . . how long is this maze anyway?]

[Until you find them. The last phoenix, crouched low on all fours and watching you with golden eyes. its lips are curled back in a snarl, but it doesn't pounce]

Something you can fill that snarls at you angrily when it is empty. Immediately!

DISCUSSION

[soulping]

Re: DISCUSSION

[debate_avenger]

[Ow ow ow... Well, let's focus on the riddle for now.]

...Stomachs, is it...?

DECISION

[soulping]

Re: DECISION

[naturen]

[ After tying up Hank in layer after layer of strong spider silk (heck, she's tempted to call it "spider steel") this spider lady walks up with him in her arms, princess-carry style. Then, she holds him up. ]

W-We, uh... apologize for the delay, but... we have no stomachs to give you. In exchange for the ingredient, we ask for this one's bloodlust to be increased instead!